Thanks to everyone who read and commented to me about chapter one. I'm very glad you enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. I made some improvements to the chapter, and will continue to do so as I read on.
WARNING: sexual scenes and language
Without thinking of protocol or protections, Dawn rushed out of the debriefing room, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Her biotic barrier dropped in seconds. Despite the looks from her crew, she yelled out to him, "Kaidan! Stop." tears fell from her eyes, the bright blue returning slowly. "I...please...Not again. I can't let you..." She could remain on her own feet no longer, and began to collapse, only to be caught by Commander Alenko's biotic lift. Instinctively, Garrus drew his assault rifle and pointed it toward Kaidan.
"Put her down Alenko. I don't want to shoot you, but I will if you hurt her." Garrus growled, his sharp, battle trained eyes on Kaidan. He knew what the man had done, had said. Garrus had been by Shepard during their trip to Horizon. Why was Alenko here? What were this mans motives?
"Garrus, you know me." Kaidan growled as he slowly pulled Shepard to him, all the while maintaining his lift. "Why would I hurt her?" Garrus lowered his rifle ever so slightly.
"You've already hurt her more than anything else could, Alenko. Something I never thought you'd do." He said lowly, taking a bit of solace in the pained look on Kaidan's face as he said those words. He was wary of Kaidan's intentions, but he also knew taking the life of someone who was once his friend was pretty far down on the list of things he wanted to do. "Alenko, everyone knew what you two were two years ago. We knew then, we sure as hell know now!" Garrus practically spat at him. "She could have ran to any of us after what you said, but she didn't. Your photo still sits on her desk you prick!"
Kaidan faltered for a mere second, nearly loosing concentration on the field that held Shepard. He was shocked by the outburst from the turian. He had always known Garrus to be soft spoken, and anti-violence. Regaining his composure, but still hurting from Garrus' words, he strengthened the barrier around Dawn, hoping he wouldn't find a bullet hole in the process.
Dawn looked to Garrus, "Stand down Garrus. That's an order." She said firmly, watching the turian reluctantly place his rifle on his back and back off a few feet. She felt incredibly weak. She had not slept well, and she had exhausted her biotics with her angry display in the debriefing room. She felt Kaidan lower her to the ground, and she tried to stand straight. She faltered yet again, this time directly into his arms. She hadn't realized he drew her close with his lift. Things were left unsaid, things she couldn't talk about in front of her crew.
Kaidan felt her loosing strength in her feet, and picked her up carefully. "Let me help you, Shepard." The pitch in his voiced dropped so quietly she was sure only she could have heard him. Nodding placed her hands around his neck, and laid her head on his strong shoulders.'This is wrong on so many levels, but it feels so right.' She thought to herself as she allowed him to pick her up. She nuzzled herself into his chest, taking in his scent.
Despite her anger toward him, and the past two years of regret, anger and pain, Kaidan felt at peace with Shepard in his arms. He knew this could not, and would not last, but he was glad to feel human again for the first time since she had first kissed him. He smiled slightly before looking around the tense CIC. He had almost forgotten the dramatic display. "I am sorry to have caused trouble here. I expect those of you who know me, know the story, those that don't I apologize for putting you on edge." He said, walking closer to Garrus. "Garrus, I know after what I said back on Horizon, you have no reason to trust nor like me, but I promise I am here to make amends to Shepard. I see how fragile and short life is to become with the reapers advancing and I realized I need to swallow my pride and take advantage of what little time I have." He said, feeling as if he owed his once-friend an explanation. Garrus said nothing, but his expression softened ever so slightly. Kaidan would take whatever he could get, as he knew he was in no position to push anyone on a ship he knew he didn't belong. He looked to those who recognized him, and then to those who didn't. "A lot is to be said, but for now I just want to get her somewhere she can rest." He said defeatedly.
"Commander, her cabin is up the elevator. Should I arrange for Chakwas to visit?" EDI said as she appeared before him. "My name is EDI, I am the ship's virtual intelligence, and protector of my fellow crewmates." She said making Kaidan jump slightly. He looked to her in disbelief.
"EDI?" Kaidan asked, gawking at how personal this AI had become. He knew AI's were highly illegal, but now was not the time to mention such things. "Um, no, with everyone's permission, I'd like to stay with her. This is my fault, and I'd like to help. From Garrus' words, as much as I hate to hear them, it sounds like maybe I am the only one who can do so."
"You little bosh'tet. How do you expect usto just let you...after everything you did to her-" An angry Tali was interrupted by Garrus, "Tali, he's right." Garrus said as though it pained him to admit it. "Shepard loves this ass, and only he can help her. But there is something you must know Kaidan." Garrus said, taking a step toward the unconscious Shepard, "She hasn't slept for more than two or three hours a night since Horizon. She has nightmares of you, she mumbles your name every time she is unconscious, calls out for you when she thinks no one can hear her, she cannot function correctly without you. You have no idea what it's like to see your commanding officer curl up in a ball like a small child and cry." Garrus' voice grew to a whisper so that only Kaidan could hear him, "If you leave her, hurt her, or even piss her off, I will not hesitate to kill you. If you are going to leave do it now. I care for Shepard like she was my own family, hell she practically is."
Kaidan did not say a word. He feared for his life for a moment. These people were more than a crew to Shepard. They thought of her as family. He swallowed hard. He took in everything Garrus said, and although he believed the turian would not hesitate to kill him if Shepard were in question, he did now worry for he had no intention of ever leaving her side again. Though, he knew, she would not make it easy for him to stay, and he deserved everything she might and probably would say to him when she woke up. He nodded to the turian before walking toward the elevator.
Dawn awoke to see Kaidan asleep, his head next to her hand. She smiled. She knew she couldn't be angry with him right now. The time to talk about the past couple of years would come, but right now she was just glad to see him. Her head ached, and the fluorescent light caused her pain. She wondered how long she had slept, glad to have even slept at all. Her body felt week, but she attributed that to her previous dramatic display. She dreaded the explanation she owed her crew when she walked out of her room. She knew they would expect some answers, and many would want to know why there was an unwelcome visitor in her cabin. "Kaidan?" She asked softly, running her fingers through his black hair, careful to slowly wake him.
Kaidan thought he was dreaming as he awoke to her smiling at him. "You…You're not angry?" He asked her, his bright brown eyes had an astonished look to them. He wondered how he would proceed with a conversation. He knew tiptoeing aroung her might be best, for he certainly didn't want any bullet holes through him. He stood up slowly, and proceeded to give her a light, friendly hug. He knew they had to start somewhere, and hoped she didn't mind. For the first time in over two years, he awoke headache free. It seemed that only she could keep them at bay. "Kaidan," She sighed, a serious look forming on her face, "I am still very angry and hurt. I don't know if I can trust you right now, but I am willing to try." She sqid quietly, her voice breaking for a moment. He say still as she spoke, letting her be angry with him as he deserved. "I loved you Kaidan. When I was dying, all I could see was you. When I woke up to a new life, you were the first thing I thought about. I tried to find you, and when I saw you on Horizon, my heart fluttered once more" She said, starting to cry tears of hurt and anger once more. "And then you said those things, and I was so angry with you. I might have said more, felt more, but I had a job to do." She sighed, wiping away the tears.
Kaidan had expected much more anger and aggression on her part, but understood she had probably found other ways of dealing with them. Maybe through her fighting and destroying of the Collectors. He could not be sure. "Do you remember what I said to you the night before Illos?" He smiled to her as he sat on the edge of her bed. She nodded, "I could never forget that, Kaidan." She said, laying her head on his shoulder as she looped her arms through his. "I still mean that Shepard. You make me feel human, and only you. I haven't felt alive since the day you died… I've been an empty shell of a man. I tried to move on, God I tried, but I couldn't." He paused before taking in a deep breath, "I stared up at the stars for days wondering when your pod was going to come, and it never did. I haven't felt alive until today. Even when you nearly crashed a chair into my head, I would have loved it because it was you. I might have even deserved it." He said quietly, kissing her forehead. "Do you think I could lay next to you, Shepard?" He asked, hopeful. She smiled to him, "I thought you'd never ask." She said as she moved over, pulling to auburn hair into a pony tail. "Don't do that." He said softly, "I love your hair down." He said as he kissed her deeply, laying her softly down on the bed. She kissed him back after a few moments, her arms locked around his neck as she ran her fingers through his hair. She sighed as his kisses began to trail down her neck, causing her legs to tingle.
"Kaidan, I…we can't." She said quietly, fidgeting under his weight for a moment. He sat up and looked at her, "Why not Shepard, why can't we?" He asked her, no hint of anger in his voice. "We can't...just pick up where we left off. Like nothing ever happened...I...I can't loose you again. I..." She stopped, her words stuck in her throat. "Shepard. I have no intention of leaving you. I swear. Not even death can keep me from you this time. I was stupid before. I know that in the blink of an eye the Reapers can wipe it all away. I promise I will be here no matter what comes Dawn." He said, kissing her again, this time lightly. Her pale pink lips tasted like the sweetest thing he ever tasted. He had missed her. "I promise to talk about this soon, maybe even later, but can't we have just a few moments for us? I want something to go right again, Shepard. I still love you."
Dawn believed him despite all her resolution, she knew she shouldn't. She kissed him once more, slowly moving her hips so that they angled his own. She let her hands wonder his body, feeling every inch. Kaidan sighed as she did so, each touch sending a jolt through his body. He caressed her smooth skin, exploring her every curve as his kisses trailed down her body. As he made his way back up her, she pulled him up to kiss him passionately. Dawn moaned lightly as he pulled her closely against him. She positioned herself and rolled on top of him, kissing him fiercely. She paused to breathe and Kaidan slowly removed her shirt, exposing her bare skin. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. She had some new scars from her "revival" but it made him love her all the more. He slowly caressed her breasts, making her gasp slightly. She arched her back as he kissed every inch of her body once more, causing her to moan lightly.
She called his name repeatedly, taking in his every touch as his fingers grazed her body. He ached for her body against his, but kept his grasp on sanity. "I want this to last Shepard." He said, his voice deepening as she grasped him tightly. She smiled at him with her captivating eyes as she began fiddling with the buckle on his pants. She felt a pain through her as she remembered the last time they were together this way, and for a brief second it showed. Kaidan smiled at her knowingly and kissed her tenderly. Within a matter of minutes the kisses deepened, each furiously exploring the other's body. A mismatched mile of clothes lay forgotten as the two intertwined their bodies, loving one another as only they could.
Shepard rolled off of him breathing heavily. She looked up at him, blushing as she did so. "Kaidan, are we moving too fast?" She asked, positioning her head on his toned chest, still looking upward at him. He ran his strong fingers through her silken hair. "Can I tell you something, Shepard?" He asked her genuinely as she nodded her head slowly. "You were only the second woman I've ever been intimate with." He said, a pale pink burning his cheeks. "Her name was Emily, and we dated only a month before we become intimate." He said, his eyebrow twitching. "We were together less than two months. Apparently I wasn't enough for her. After our first, and only night intimate, she left me." Kaidan sighed. "After that, I figured my career didn't have time for personal anything. I never loved her, but I did care for her. I was upset when she left me, but not heartbroken. I was assigned to a few other ships, and time went on." He said, sitting up in her bed and looking away.
She put a hand on his arm, causing him to turn around and smile at her. "Then I was assigned to the Normandy and everything was different. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I was completely captivated Shepard. I knew it was unprofessional, and could possibly get us both discharged so i didn't say anything, but that afternoon Udina grounded us at the Citadel I knew I had to comfort you somehow." Kaidan moved closer to her and held her in his arms. "I was so pissed when Joker interrupted that. I was going to kiss you and he knew it, so he stopped us. Part of me hates him for it, part of me is grateful." Dawn smiled to him, "Well, he can't call me to the bridge this time, now can he?" She winked to him as she kissed him again. "Bunk here tonight. With me...again." She asked, her doe eyes hopeful.
Kaidan smiled playfully. "Is that an order, ma'am?" He grinned at her, knowing that she didn't officially outrank him anymore. She situated herself, and snuggled closely to him, her eyes becoming heavy. Sleep crept upon her, soon overpowering her conscious. She fell asleep peacefully, held by the one man who could make everything feel alright again, even if it wasn't.